Basket.



No. 722,408. PATENTBD MAR. 10, 1903.

J. I. LANE.

BASKET.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13, 1902.

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No. 722,408. .PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903. J. 1. LANE. BASKET.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13, 1902.

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ATTORfiEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN IRVING LANE, OF PORT CHESTER, .NEVV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO W. T. LANE AND BROTHER, OF PORT CHESTER, NEW YORK, A

COPARTNERSHIP.

BASKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 722,408, dated March 10, 1903. Application filed September 13,1902. fierial lie. 1 23,286. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN IRVING LANE, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Port Chester, county of Westchester, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Baskets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to baskets of the type consisting of a frame over which is applieda flexible covering of canvas or other suitable material. Such baskets as ordinarily con structed employ a stiff solidly-jointed frame and in use are found objectionably'rigid and unyielding. in handling coal or the like, where the basket, which is ordinarily carried upon the shoulder,is dropped from the shoulder to the ground and in landing strikes either upon a corner or one of the bottom edges. In such instances the lack of flexibility and failure of the bottom to yieldandland squarely upon the ground throws the entire weight of the contained material upon the side covering, and the resulting strain tends to tear out the fastenings and burst the seams securing the cover upon the frame. Considerable difficulty and inconvenience is also experienced in filling such baskets,owing to their tendency to tilt or overturn. This follows as a result of their failure to adapt themselves to uneven or inclined surfaces and rest solidly thereon in an upright position so that the material entered will become evenly distributed therein and not pile up against one side and strain the covering.

My invention is designed to avoid the ob jections above pointed out; and it consists, broadly, in providing such a basket with a loosely-jointed frame, which will yield readily and cause the basket when dropped to the ground to land solidly upon its bottom and which, furthermore, in so yielding will become at once self-adapting to uneven or inclined surfaces, at the same time remaining upright in proper position for filling and without any tendency to tilt or overturn.

Several forms of loosely-jointed frames embodying my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout the sev- This is particularly noticeable 'eral views of which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Figure'l is a view in perspective of a basket constructed in accordance with my invention, the covering thereof being indicated by dotted lines to more clearly show the construction and arrangement of the frame. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view in perspective, showing the connection between the bottom cross-brace and one of the side frames, the adjustability of the connection being indicated by dotted lines,showing the various positions which the cross-brace may assume.

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of a frame,

showing a modified form of theloosely-jointed connection between the cross-brace and side frame. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view in perspective thereof. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of a second modification; and Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 are similar views illustrating further modifications.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the basket, the bottom of which is preferably flat and either square or rectangular and the top circular; but it will be understood that the proportions and form may be varied to produce any size and shape desired.

The frame, of metal or other suitable material, consists, preferably, of twin U-shaped side members 2 2, connected at the top by a hoop or ring 3 and at the bottom by one or more loosely-jointed connections 4. The free upturned ends of the side members may be either hinged to the ring by being bent up loosely around the same or secured rigidly thereto.

The cover, (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1,) of canvas or any other suitable material, may be cut and fit in any manner desired, but ispreferably secured by felled or lap seams, in which the frame is inclosed or pocketed. I

,Any suitable means for loosely connecting the side frames at the bottom may be employed. Preferably they are united by a universally-jointed connection, which in its preferred form (shown in Fig. 1) consists of a cross-brace 5, having its ends bent up to loosely engage eyes 6 6, formed centrally of the lower horizontal portions of the sideframes. These eyes are preferably elongated to increase the adjustability of the connection by allowing greater freedom of movement between the brace and side frames and are formed in part by giving the horizontal portions of the frames an inward arc-shaped bend, as at 7. The hooked ends of the crossbrace encircling the same are prevented from working out of engagement therewith onto the straight portions of the frames by loose links 8 8, which bridge the bends and straddle the ends of the brace.

In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the links 8 8 are dispensed with and saddleplates 9 9 are employed. These plates straddle the curved portions of the side frames and have their ends turned inward and apertured for engagement with the hooked ends of the cross-brace. If desired, two or more connections may be employed between the side frames, as represented in Fig. 5.

In the modification .shown in Fig. 6 the side frames are relatively arranged with their lower horizontal portions crossing each other at right angles and are provided with engaging eyes 10 10 at thepoint of intersection.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7 a loop '7 from the horizontal portion of each side frame extends inward,and these loops are connected centrally by a short link 11. Practically the same result is obtained by dispensing with the link and causing the loops to engage directly one with the other, as in Fig. 8.

Instead of engaging loops the side frames might be connected by twin links 11 11, engaging eyes thereof, as shown in Fig. 9, or by reducing the size of, the links and increasing their number an ordinary chain would be produced to serveas a connection between the side frames.

Some of the main advantages of my invention are as follows: The use of a loosely-jointed frame lengthens the life of the basket by reducing the strain and wear on the cover thereof. The framedn yielding causes the basket when dropped to the ground to land solidly upon its bottom, even though it strikes upon one of the corners or bottom edges, and as a result there is no tendency of the contents to spill and scatter over the ground. Being thus yielding and flexible, the bottom of the basket readily adapts itself to inclined or uneven surfaces, and in resting solidly thereon in an upright position the basket may be rapidly filled in a ready and convenient manner and with little or no strain on the seams and fastenings, as the material when entered does not pile up against one side, but spreads evenly over the bottom, and its weight becomes thereby equally distributed therein. The use of looselyjointed connections between the side frames adds materially to the strength of the basket by supporting the weight of the contents and preventing the side frames from being forced apart.

It will be understood that I do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction and arrangement of the frame shown and described, as various changes might be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having therefore described my invention, what I claim as new, and desireto protectiby Letters Patent, is

1. In a basket, the combination of a frame, a covering therefor, and a universally-jointed connection between the membersof the frame at the bottom of the basket.

2. In abasket, the combination of a frame having depending portions extending to the bottom of the basket, a universally-jointed connection between the lower free ends of such depending portions, and a covering applied to the frame to form the side walls and bottom of the basket.

3. In a basket, the combination of a frame comprising an upper circular member, twin side members depending therefrom, and one or more universally-jointed connections between the lowerends of the sidemembers, together with a covering inclosing the frame and forming the sides and bottom of the basket.

4. In a basket, thecombination of a frame,

a covering therefor, anda connection extending between the frame members in the plane of the bottom of the basket, such connection consisting of a cross-brace having terminal eyes loosely encircling inward arcshaped bends of the frame members and loose links bridging the bends and straddling the ends of the brace to limit its play.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN IRVING LANE. Witnesses:

- J. W. DIEHL,

GEO. A. STUDWELL.

IOO 

